Garment lacing



O. WEINGARTEN GARMENT meme Filed Nov. 4. 1920 L w a v m w 0 PatentedFeb. l2, 192 i.

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GARMENT Leonie.

Application filed November 4, 1920. Serial No. 421,627.

corset, depending upon whether the corset 18 a front lace or rear lacecorset, and a lacing cord or in some cases-more than one lacing cordpassed through the eyelets on the opposite. corset edges. These eyeletsare rigidly anchored in the stays and it is not intended to have themmove under the varying tension of the cord.

It is recognized that the lacing arrangement above briefly described hasseveral undesirable features. Owing to the unyielding character of theeyelets considerable friction is developed when the cord -is tightenedand loosened, as a result of which the cord is easily frayed or brokenafter a relatively short period of use. With back lace corsets it is notan easy matter for the wearer to lace the corset when on the body, andit is also difficult to properly adjust and tighten the two parts of thecorset so that comfort and adequate body supporting action may besecured. The usual manner of manipulating the lace is for the wearer tofirst pull the two ends of the lacing cord to bring the corset edgesnear each other, and

then with the fingers to pull on the several lace crossings keeping aconstant pull on the free ends of the cord until the desired degree oftightness is obtained, whereupon the lacing cord ends are tied together.Obviously this manipulation is laborious, particularly when done with aback lace corset, which is very generally used.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a novel form oflacing means of simple construction, in which the disadvantages of theexisting lacing arrangements are obviated and by means of which I secureease and certainty of manipulation with greatly increased durability ofthe lacing cord and of the corset as a whole.

I accomplish this object by passing the lacing cord through receivingmembers therefor, such as rings, which are movably supported in such amanner that while they retain the cord in the desired position'they arecapable of movement under the cord tension whereby friction is reducedto a minimum and the operations of tightening and loosening the lacingcord are. greatly sim plified.

The invention as applied to a corset illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing wherein Fig. l is a fragmentary rear elevational view of acorset provided with my novel lacing arrangement; Fig. 2 is anelevational view of a tape to which the lace receiving rings areattached, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 33 ofFig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, A and B represent the halves of an ordinarycorset as seen from the rear. Each half of the corset may be providedwith the usual body stays 10 and the stays 11 adjacent the corset edge12. The edge 12 of the corset is free or loose and extending parallelthereto is a fabric member 13 secured as by sewing at one longitudinaledge and at the top and bottom to the edge 12. The edge flap 12 and thefabric member 13 form an open pocket wherein is secured a tape 1a whichis parallel to the two members. The tape may be held in place by thesame stitching which secures the fabric 13 to the corset flap 12.

The tape 14 is provided to support the movable lace receiving memberswhich may be of any preferred form. A desirable construction is thatshown in the drawing in which the tape 14 has a series of eyes 15attached thereto, the eyes projecting beyond the free marginal edge ofthe tape and each eye supporting a ring 16 through which the lacing cord17 is threaded. The opening in each eye 15 is suiiiciently large topermit the corresponding ring not only to rotate but also to rock fromside to side and to move back and forth. in such opening whereby therings 16 have practically unlimited freedom of motion in the eyes 15 sothat the lacing cord may be uniformly tensioned with but a minimum offriction.

Each flap 12 is preferably provided with two alined eyelets 18 throughwhich the ends of the lacing cord 17 pass, to be secured about the bodyor to be secured together at the back, if desired.

i The manipulation of a lacing device such as that illustrated anddescribed is exceedingly simple. T o tighten the corset 1 pull isexerted on the ends of the lacing cord, and owing to the constructionand arrangement of the rings 16 the corset edges will be smoothly andeasily drawn together, without the need for pulling with the. fingersatany intermediate parts of the cord.' When the corset hasbeen tightenedas desired the ends of the cord are lmotted together in the usualmanner. To remove or loosen the corset it is merely necessary to openthe knot and by aslight expanding movement of the body the corset halveswill be spread apart as the lacing plied to a corset, and for the sakeof brevity will be so claimed, the same is applicable to other garmentsand such application is Within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim 1. Lacing means for the edges of garments, comprising orificedlace receiving members, and eyes attached to the garment edges, themembers being supported in the openin s in said eyes and each openingbeing su iciently large to permit the corresponding member to rotate, torock from side to side and to move back and forth in said opening.

2. Lacing means for the edges of gar ments, comprising rings throughwhich a lacing cord may be threaded and eyes secured to the garmentedges with their axes parallel to such edges, the rings being supportedin the openings in the eyes and each opening being sufliciently large topermit the corresponding ring. to rotate,

to rock from side to side an to move back and forth in sa1d opening.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. V

OSCAR WEINGARTEN.

